Boulder, CO vs Castle Rock, CO

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Castle Rock is 18.4% cheaper than Boulder. With a cost index of 147 vs 174, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Castle Rock to Boulder should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Boulder is $1,924/month compared to $1,946/month in Castle Rock — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Boulder has cheaper rent, Castle Rock actually has lower median home values ($621,700 vs $982,600).

Median household income in Boulder is $85,364 compared to $143,031 in Castle Rock (-40.3%). Castle Rock offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Boulder spend roughly 27% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Castle Rock.